Chapter Text
The Acre is the most dreadful place I have ever seen, which is why I'm going to procrastinate going there for as long as possible. I wake up in my bed sharply at six A.M, as I do everyday, and rush to the bathroom before any of my pesky loopmates get a chance to steal the shower. Without checking the calendar, I already know what day it is. Its the day I must become responsible for Caul's boy. And Miss Lao, but I've met her before. She's not a bother at all. Delightful, actually. I cant help but be a little concerned, he's a cold blooded murderer after all! But Miss Cuckoo asked me to do her this favor, and I cannot say no to such a thing.
I turn the faucet on, cold, and take my time bathing. Apparently too much time, because after only fifteen minutes someone is banging on the door.
"Come on, Eddie, I have work!"
"I just *got* in here!" I shout back.
My name is Edward Leslie Thompkins. I'm 74 years old, 1.74 meters tall, part time veterinarian and animal therapist, and I am an animal communicator. An *actual* one. I don't talk to bugs or belch flies from my mouth.
"Edward!" I groan as yet another one of them comes knocking.
"Alright! Gods..." I turn the water off and wrap a towel around my body, exiting the bathroom and rushing back to my bedroom. "Bloody hell are you looking at?" I say to the Jack Russel who stands waiting by my bureau. Fido, is his name. "Well? Get out so I can get dressed."
Clothes are the most important thing about a way a person is perceived. If you dress in blue jeans everyday one would think you a laborer and If you wear nothing, you're a heathen. (One reason I can't say I'm particularly fond of invisible folk.) If you wear a suit and tie everyday, you command attention, you're treated like you're important. Which is why I wear the same thing every single day. EVERY single day. White button up (obviously), brown blazer (It better hides the sight of animal fur than black) buttoned to the top, darker brown slacks, a tie to match the color of my trousers, and a bowler, all perfectly fitted to my body. The only thing I change is the pin I use to keep the tie in place. Who needs variety? I've already found at works, and you should never alter perfection. I look myself in the mirror and give myself a big toothy smile. I'll need to remember to keep that on my face when I meet the boy face to-
Knock, knock.
Ah, beautiful. Yet another disruption. I walk to my bedroom door and open it up. There, Fido sits exactly where he's supposed to. And in front of me,
"Miss C told me to make you hurry and get breakfast, Say's the boy's already at Miss Peregrines." I'm met with that heavy Scottish accent that hasn't faded in the half decade I've lived with him.
"Good morning, Ethan." I nod at him.
"If you don't want to be late you ought to get going." The two of us begin to walk down the staircase and I whistle for Fido.
"Yes I know." I reach down, picking up the mouse that stands waiting for me on the railing post. I pull up the flap of my blazer and let him burrow in the inside pocket.
"You may like him. I've seen him around before, helping with reconstruction. I heard he had seven horses." We go to the kitchen so I can quickly pick something up. I'll have a proper brunch later if time permits me.
"Seven? What the hell does he need seven horses for?"
"Well, had." The Scot leans against the counter during our temporary stop. "I heard a few of them died when the fortress fell. Said he was screaming and crying, poor bloke."
This causes me to quirk an eyebrow, taking a moment to chew a handful of blueberries. We get back to walking and make it out the back door. "I find that hard to imagine. I've seen him before too. *Before,* I mean. In his uniform, gun in his hand. Real scary, he was."
"I met Miss Lanner, though. She's actually really nice." Seems he intends to walk me the entire way.
"What were you expecting, a witch? Are you so adamant on humanizing these people for a specific reason, Bullock?"
Ethan Bullock, he's an empath. Raised by nuns until ymbrynes found him. He can feel other people's emotions or physical sensations when they're nearby, and if he touches them, he can take those feelings from them and exact them on himself. Quite the interesting ability. He tends to abuse it at times, though.
Ethan shrugs, "Because they are humans?"
"Technically Miss Lanner isn't, you need a soul to be human."
Ethan deeply sighs and rolls his eyes. We make it past the yard and down the short trail that leads to our loop exit. "You know what I mean, Eddie. Those kids were born in to that, taught since birth. They didn't choose."
"Adeline Lanner chose."
"You don't believe in redemption..?" He stops once we get to the exit, turning to face me. He's taller than I am, and at this distance apart it makes me have to tip my hat back and look up.
"Are you going to keep following the whole time, or do you have something to do, Ethan?" I'll admit, I can be a bit snippy at times. I haven't had coffee yet, that's why. (Also I don't want to do this.)
He grabs my arm and pulls us both through the exit at the same time, transporting us from the quaint countryside to the warmly lit hallway with many doors, the Panloopticon. "I have a job too, moron." He releases me once we arrive, allowing me to dust off my sleeve. I look back to make sure Fido is still at my side, a far better companion that the human beside me, then check my inside pocket. Small animals are quite susceptible to loop lag, but he seems fine. We get back moving.
"Ugh." I wave my hand, pushing back the flies in the air. This house is filled with them, thanks to Sharron's boy. I hate bugs. Ethan doesn't seem to mind them. "Where are you off to?" I ask him as we turn the corner and head down the stairs, entering the main hall. Here, there's a large painting above the door of Miss lanner from forever ago, so long that she still had irises. In her arms, she holds a baby, one I assume is the man I'm on my way to meet. Nobody has redecorated this place since Myron Bentham lived here. I would volunteer my services, but I already have so many jobs.
On top of being a helper to the animals, I am now a social coach. I'm not even getting paid for it, its pure charity. Not to say I don't enjoy charity.
"Home for Misplaced Peculiars. I'm there every Saturday taking care of the little ones." Ethan responds. If that's the case, then we're about to split. As soon as we exit the building, I'm greeted by several different people.
"Morning to you, Edward." Says a Temporal Affairs officer, entering the building as we leave.
"Hello, Eddie." Says the older woman who's misbehaving cat I'd given therapy last week.
"Good day to you, Mr. Thompkins." Says the other old woman who sits and gossips beside her, that same cat in her lap. I'm acquainted with more people than I can count, I know practically everyone who spends their time here in the Acre-A place which the ymbrynes promised would be temporary, but seems to be our permanent hub.
This place is anything but pretty and peaceful, just like the argument I'm overhearing. A nonsense one, I'll bet.
"I have to go." Ethan pats my shoulder goodbye. "See you at supper?"
"Perhaps." I crane my neck, leaning farther forward to get a better view of a friend of mine arguing with the Panloopticon's overseer. The Scottish haunt me, I suppose. Can't get rid of them.
"You need to get him under control! At least try and keep him form stomping all along our roof tops and causing disturbances! *Some* people have real work to do!" Ulysses, not afraid to stick his finger in Sharon's face. He has terrible audacity, which makes him perfect for his job and a very interesting bloke to befriend.
"G'day gentlemen." I step up to them after Ethan runs off, tipping my hat to them both. "Is there a problem?" I guess this isn't any of my business, but I'm nosy. I am not afraid to admit it, everyone is.
"Us Temporal Affairs officers are all suffering a terrible affliction." The boy in uniform crosses his arms, still giving a stink eye to Sharron.
"I already told you, I don't control the boy! He does what he wants. Maybe don't provoke him to feel the need to disturb you, and he'll stop." Sharron is clearly quite tense, which makes me wonder how long he's been bothered with this subject.
"See, Edward? He can not be bothered with responsibility over his own child!" I can almost see smoke coming out of Ulysses' ears. I can tell why, too. I swat more flies out of my face. Wretched creatures.
"Alf ain't no child, and I he wouldn't bother someone unprovoked. Now you get out of here and stop slandering me and my kid."
"You did just say he wasn't a kid." I put my hands in my pockets, Fido at my side yipping once to agree. Probably should have kept that to myself.
Sharon takes in a deep breath, I can tell he wants us gone. He then yells so loud I'm sure the entire Acre can hear. My head feels rattled. "ALFFIE."
It takes a few moments, but we all look up, hearing some one run to the edge of the flat roof. Ah, there he is. Affliction. Yes, the is really his tame (I think). He controls flies and such. Filthy as all hell, living in Devil's Acre forever and being a chimney sweep on the side of whatever he does with Sharon. I think he helps build gallows too. He may be totally filthy, but at least he's productive.
The tall slender bloke looks down at us, flies swarming his face so, you could hardly see where they stopped and his shaggy black hair began. He held a chimney broom across his shoulders, held in place by his arms over either side. He looked down at us, expression both annoyed and offended behind the goggles he wore.
"GET YOUR ARSE DOWN HERE."
He half rolled his neck, just like one would their eyes. I've only known him for about a year, but it takes longer than that to pick up on his language, which Sharon knew fluently. The boy doesnt speak. I watched as Affliction grumbled and dived back. Moments later we hear boots falling on the ground, and he rounds the corner, joining the three of us.
My friends scrunches up his nose at Alffie, retreating closer to my side.
"You stop bothering people. I let you do what you want, but when it starts being *my* problem, that's a different story."
Alf took his goggles off, shaking out his hair. I myself pulled farther back, watching as flies flew out of it. He was now glaring up at Sharon, expression the epidemy of teenage angst. "Don't you give me that look. Apologize then get back to work."
Affliction growled lowly, gaze turning to us. I always thought he seemed more animal than human, which can sometimes be good in a person. I prefer animals to humans. This one is a different story. "I said apologize." Sharon lightly thunks him on the back of his head. To this, Affliction groans and fishes in his back pocket, pulling out a small note pad.
He crudely scribbles down a 'sorry.' with a pencil he must have sharpened moments before with a blade. Then, he turns and runs off.
"There you go. He's sorry. He wont bother again. Now get the hell out of my face." Sharon can be quite scary. I tug on Ulysses' arm.
"Yes, lets. Come now."
I check my pocket watch, standing outside the lunatic asylum that had been transformed in the the new headquarters for the Ymbrynes. Its time. No more procrastination.
Time to meet the prince who'd never be.